Aleppo rebel religious committee forbids ‘colonial’ croissants

A sharia committee in a rebel-held area of Aleppo issued a fatwa deeming croissants ‘haram’ (forbidden in Islamic law) because of their “colonial” significance, pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat reported on Tuesday.

Croissants’ crescent shape celebrates European victory over Muslims, according to the fatwa (religious ruling).

Reporting on the story, the Huffington Post provided a link to a document posted on Twitter and linked to Sheikh Abu Mohammed of the Islamic court Hai'aa al-Sharia.

Some internet sources ridiculed the alleged fatwa as baseless and lacking any links to any Syrian group.

Rebel-controlled areas of the Syrian city have experienced several strict fatwas recently from Islamic sharia committees.

Such edicts are uncommon in Aleppo’s society, which usually adheres to moderate Islamic teachings, Asharq al-Awsat reported.

A sharia committee in the city issued a fatwa on Facebook prohibiting “Muslim women wearing makeup and tight clothes that reveal physical features from going out.”

A fatwa issued by the Council of the United Judiciary, affiliated with the rebel Free Syrian Army, stipulated a year in jail for anyone not fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

Samir Nashar, a member of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, called on the FSA to unite its forces in Aleppo and work to prevent the expansion of these committees.

There are civil movements resisting the extremist tendencies of such committees, he told Asharq al-Awsat.